A Sweet Potato Halwa Recipe for Navratri

Navratri, meaning “nine nights” is a Hindu holiday that celebrates the feminine form of the Devi, or godess. In honor of this nine day celebration where one must fast, this is a sweet potato recipe to have in small amounts throughout the celebration.

‘Navratri’ means the ‘nine nights’. ‘Nava’ means ‘nine’, and ‘ratri’ means ‘night’.During the nine nights and ten days of Navratri, the three forms of the Devi (Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati) are invoked. On this occasion I decided to make sweet potato halwa.

The first three days of Navratri celebrate the Devi in the form of Durga. In the presence of Durga Shakti, negative forces fade away. She transforms negativity into positivity.

The next three days of Navratri honor the Devine in the form of Lakshmi. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Wealth is a vital ingredient bestowed upon us for the maintenance and progress in our life. It is much more than just having money. It means abundance in knowledge, skills and talents. Lakshmi is the energy that manifests as the complete spiritual and material well-being of a person.

The final three days of Navratri are dedicated to Saraswati.

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge – the one who gives the essence (Saara) Self (Swa). She is often depicted as being seated on a rock. Knowledge, like a rock, is a steadfast support. It stays with us at all times.

Devotees fast for 9 days and this recipe is quick dessert recipe consumed during fast.